At a recent Judges meeting, Judge Jerry Wiese was selected by a majority vote of the District Court bench to serve as the new chief to oversee the administrative functions of the court. Effective July 1, he will officially replace outgoing Chief Judge Linda Marie Bell, who has served two terms as chief judge. Judge Bell will not only turn over the reins of chief judge in District Court, in January, she will move into her new role as a Nevada Supreme Court justice. “Judge Wiese deserves appreciation for stepping up to take on the responsibility of District Court chief judge,” said current Chief Judge Bell. “It’s a complex job with a lot of responsibility. Judge Wiese is committed to putting in the work to be an effective leader for the court.”
Since taking the bench in January of 2011, Judge Wiese has presided over both civil and criminal cases. He coordinates the Judicial Settlement Conference Program, and presides over the medical malpractice sweeps.
Jerry Wiese grew up in Las Vegas and graduated from Rancho High School. He attended Brigham Young University and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He attended law school at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1994. He practiced law in both Nevada and Arizona from 1994 through 2010, when he was elected to the District Court bench.
During his career as a trial attorney, he represented plaintiffs and defendants in various types of civil cases. He served as a court appointed arbitrator for many years, and sat as a pro tem justice of the peace for several years, where he presided over both civil and criminal cases. He also had a contract with the Public Defender’s Office representing inmates at the High Desert State Prison in parole violation hearings. He previously served as the Presiding Civil Judge, served on the Court’s Executive Committee, served as a member of the Clark County Bar Association Board, and he currently serves on the Clark County Law Library Board.
“My plan is to get people involved in a dialogue, so we can resolve issues and problems with solutions that make sense to everyone,” said Judge Wiese. “I am committed to transparency. Judges, staff members, and everyone who works in the judiciary have difficult jobs. One of my goals is to help the public understand what it is that we do, and the importance of the decisions that we make.” He added that he wants the court to be a positive place to work and that he will work to promote respect, compassion, and integrity among the judiciary.
